Northwood Technical College Presented A Nearly $10 Million Workforce Grant

BARRON COUNTY -- Northwood Technical College is the recipient of a $9,823,075 Workforce Innovation Grant to fund its three-year Housing Opportunity and Mobile Education Solutions (HOMES) project. Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes made the announcement on Tuesday, June 21 at the Northwood Tech Rice Lake Campus.

“The HOMES project will help fund three workforce housing projects in Northwood Tech’s region and will provide new funding for cutting-edge mobile training equipment targeted towards advanced manufacturing competencies,” said John Will, President of Northwood Tech. “The multi-family housing will be equipped with community rooms that can also serve as classrooms, which will add potential training hubs for Northwood Tech’s growing portfolio of mobile education solutions. We’re excited to partner with Impact Seven to accomplish this innovative solution to two of the region's major workforce challenges – housing and expanded postsecondary opportunities.”

HOMES will provide housing and skills to individuals to enter jobs in the advanced manufacturing industry targeting the unemployed/underemployed and underserved populations in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, and Washburn Counties. Sites will be selected in communities with strong employer support where there is a measurable shortage of workforce housing.

Impact Seven will establish a workforce housing fund to reduce risk on housing projects for three multi-family rental housing projects that include “workforce accelerators” for on-site training. Northwood Technical College will acquire mobile training equipment, which will add to its growing portfolio of moveable, hands-on education options. HOMES will provide affordable housing options and educational assets that will serve communities for decades to come.

For more information on the Workforce Innovation Grants, please visit here.

[PHOTO: (left to right): Dan Miller, Associate Dean, Workforce & Community Development; John Will, President of Northwood Technical College; Jeanne Germain, Dean of Career Prep, Manufacturing, and Apprenticeships; Dori Marty, Director, Grants/Resource Development; Governor Tony Evers; Liz Pizzi, Associate Dean, Workforce & Community Development; Rose Cibulka, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs; Jennifer Schultz, Institutional Effectiveness Technician; Missy Hughes, WEDC Secretary & CEO; and Brett Gerber, President & CEO of Impact Seven. (Group of individuals involved in the draft and design of the application for the HOMES Project.)

Northwood Tech is grateful for all its community partnerships. Your support of the Northwood Tech Foundation is essential to student success. For information on how to contribute, visit www.northwoodtech.edu/donate.

Northwood Technical College is a nationally top-ranked college and designated Silver 2022-23 Military Friendly® School that puts your Learning First. Northwood Tech serves the educational and career needs of more than 15,000 residents of Northwestern Wisconsin each year. With multiple campuses, Northwood Tech offers career-focused associate degree programs, technical diplomas, short-term certificates, customized business training, and a wide array of courses for personal or career enrichment. Northwood Tech is a member of the Wisconsin Technical College System and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org). For more information, call 800.243.9482 or visit NorthwoodTech.edu. Northwood Technical College is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer and Educator.